EFIs cart Maryborough donations 1,300km to Innisfail

The 16-hour journey will start tomorrow, with the donations – made by generous Maryborough residents – to leave town in the morning before the first stop-off in Gladstone to change trucks.

The donations were made to Station Square Shopping Centre over a four-week period and include about 40 boxes of nappies, clothing, toiletries and other essential items.

Centre manager Doug Sanderson was astounded by the generosity the Maryborough community showed.

A load of goods have already gone to flood victims in Bundaberg and Gympie but Doug struggled to find a volunteer or donated freight service to reach Innisfail.

Endeavour Foundation has stepped in and will transport the goods to North Queensland.

“Endeavour Foundation is proud to take part in this fantastic support effort,” said Endeavour Foundation Industries Maryborough manager Scott Reed.

“It’s important to help those in need. The floods and Cyclone Yasi devastated this state but they’ve also brought out tremendous community spirit. So many people have donated to the shopping centre’s relief effort so we’re more than happy to make sure the goods reach those who need them.

“We will tag team the effort between several Endeavour Foundation Industries services to ensure the goods arrive as soon as possible.”

The first truck will travel to Endeavour Foundation Industries Gladstone, before the goods are transferred into a second truck and taken to Endeavour Foundation Industries Rockhampton and loaded to a third truck from Endeavour Foundation Industries Mackay, which will deliver the goods to Cyclone Yasi victims at the showgrounds in Innisfail.

Endeavour Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which provides accommodation, education, employment, training, life skills and personal development opportunities for more than 3,350 people with a disability.

This isn’t the first time the organisation has stepped in to help those in need. After the devastating floods last month Endeavour Foundation organised for each full-time and part-time employee to be eligible for one day of paid Special Leave for Flood Relief Support. The day allowed staff members to take a day off to help flood-affected communities clean up and get back on their feet.

In addition to the Special Leave for Flood Relief Support, Endeavour Foundation set up the Endeavour Welfare Fund, which supports people with a disability who were affected by the floods. These flood victims include seven people with a disability who lost their home in Brisbane.

Endeavour Foundation had several services and stores to clean out across Queensland following the recent floods and Cyclone Yasi, including in Maryborough, where one of our residential services was isolated because of floodwaters.